North Towanda to Scranton is 65.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m via Roosevelt Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a local road experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its relatively short duration and the turn-heavy profile, it's a straightforward trip ideal for a single day, perfect for those who prefer a more connected drive to the scenery rather than a blur. You'll be navigating local highways for most of the trip, making it an accessible option for any traveler.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.6 miles from North Towanda, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Roosevelt Highway
25 mi
39m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
21.8 mi
31m
Morgan Highway
4.6 mi
8m
Pennsylvania Route 92
2.9 mi
5m
Winola Road
2.4 mi
4m
North Scranton Expressway
2.1 mi
3m
Golden Mile Road
2 mi
3m
Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Roosevelt Highway
— 25 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Towanda, PA and City of Scranton, PA.
1
Start on this road
155 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·Reuter Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·2 min·York Avenue
4
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
5
Turn left onto US 6
0.4 mi·49 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 6
2.0 mi·3 min·Golden Mile Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 6
12 mi·16 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·State Street
9
Continue on US 6
6.9 mi·9 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 6
7.4 mi·10 min·Roosevelt Highway
11
Continue on US 6
0.5 mi·46 sec·River Street
12
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·38 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on US 6
7.4 mi·11 min·Roosevelt Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 6
2.5 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward US 6 Bypass East: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto PA 92
2.9 mi·5 min·Pennsylvania Route 92
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on PA 92
1.2 mi·2 min·Roosevelt Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 307
2.2 mi·3 min·Roosevelt Highway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 307
6.7 mi·11 min·Roosevelt Highway
19
Continue on PA 307
0.1 mi·13 sec·Airport Drive
20
Turn straight onto PA 307
2.4 mi·4 min·Winola Road
21
Turn slight right onto PA 307
4.6 mi·8 min·Morgan Highway
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn left onto PA 307
308 ft·7 sec·North Keyser Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Take the ramp onto PA 307
0.2 mi·30 sec·PA 307
Toward US 11 South, PA 307 SouthUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto US 11; PA 307
2.1 mi·3 min·North Scranton Expressway
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 11; PA 307
0.2 mi·36 sec·Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto Penn Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·Penn Avenue
Use the right lane.
27
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·Lackawanna Avenue
28
Turn right onto CR 3023
0.1 mi·10 sec·Cedar Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
Cedar Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 1h 48m drive is well within a single day, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, perhaps mid-morning to avoid early rush. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling stops, but it's always wise to have a full tank before departing North Towanda. Keep an eye out for the many turns characteristic of this route; using GPS is highly recommended. The longest stretch is 25 miles, so plan for a brief stop around then if you like, perhaps for a quick stretch.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.6 miles from North Towanda, PA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.6 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Scranton, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Towanda, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Towanda, PA
This is one driving day of about 65.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from North Towanda, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Roosevelt Highway for about 25 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 64.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 6 / Reuter Boulevard
Turn left onto US 6 / Reuter Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~5m in|US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Turn left onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
62 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|PA 307 / North Keyser Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto PA 307 / North Keyser Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|PA 307
Take the ramp onto PA 307 toward US 11 South, PA 307 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 11 South, PA 307 South
6
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Penn Avenue
Turn right onto Penn Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.83 one way
$21.65 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.86
$23.71
premium
$4.93
$12.66
$25.33
diesel
$5.61
$14.42
$28.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.6
0
$6.86
$3.13
Efficient EV
16.3
0
$5.71
$2.61
EV Truck/SUV
26.1
0
$9.14
$4.18
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
North Towanda, PA
Morning
in North Towanda on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Scranton, PA
Morning
in City of Scranton on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 6 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 65.3-mile journey. With only an 8% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on roads like Roosevelt Highway and Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 25 miles on Roosevelt Highway, so be prepared for frequent adjustments and a varied driving pace. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it feels like a more engaged, local exploration through towns and countryside.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25 mi on Roosevelt Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6 / Reuter Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 / Reuter Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (PA 307 / North Keyser Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25 miles on Roosevelt Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Scranton, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 / Reuter Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (PA 307 / North Keyser Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Scranton, PA before heading back.
